The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-03-18
ANXIOUS CREDITORS.
DISAPPEARANCE OF WALTER {. LAWTON.
TIE onIs Surviving Partner OF q Firm Of Ne~ foTt
Fertilizer Dealers Leaves s2@5.ooo Of
Unsatisfed Debts.

New YORK, March 1s.-Sheriff Grant
has seized the place of business of Walter
K. Lawton. at 33 Broadway. who did
business under the firm name OF Lawton
Bros. in fertilizers. under attachments
from Judge Donohue, of the Supreme
Court. on creditors claims amounting to
S245 200. II is charged that Lawton has
absconded to defraud his creditors that
he has disposed of his property and
taken a large amount of money with
him.
Lawton's disappearance has created a
great deal of apprehension and it is gen
orally believed that he is bankrupt He
left the office Tuesday afternoon as usual
10 go To his home on the Hudson River
and has not been seen since. To-day his
cashier states that several attachments
were obtained. but outside of that moth
lug is known. The amount of his liza
bilities is estimated at about a million
dollars. Lawton is widower and the
sole representative of the firm, his brother
having died some time ago. The cashier
states that Tuesday Lawton withdrew
which he had deposited and took the
money with him. Lawton before his
departure. destroyed all stubs, checks
and papers of every kline from which
any information could be secured As to
the disposition of his funds and prop
erty.
Josesh d. Jones placed in Lawton's
care on Tuesday. in behalf of the Com
pany, S12, 200. This is also gone. Kirk
land, the cashier. states that Tuesday he
had an interview with Lawton at Broad
way and Wall street and that Lawton
requested him to go with him to the
officers of the Third National Bank and
introduce him. This he did. Lawton
also asked him To execute a blank war
ranty deed for the conveyance of real
estate in New Jersey, and to meet him at
the New York Hotel He met Lawton
there with blank deed and both went
to the Grand Central depot. Law
ton told Kirkland he intended to
leave the city by train. that
he had drawn out all his money on de-
posit, that he was a ruined man. that he
did not know what To do and that he
would probably commit suicide. Law
ton further said that he had exhausted
all his resources. He left Kirkland to
take the train.
One of the attachments was issued at
the instance of the Chemical Ammoni-
ate & Oil Co. The company delivered
to Lawton promissory notes of the value
of S120,000, in trust to discount notes
and to hold proceeds for the company's
benefit. In addition he received 5000
in money. He discounted the notes,
kept the proceeds and also retained the
money and converted it to his own use
The associates of w. T. Lawton look
upon his disappearance as a part of a
gigantic swindle and believe that ne
sailed on one of the Wednesdays steam
ers. He has a brother in Sussex, Eng
land, and it is supposed that he has gone
there. Several different parties had put
securities i'm his control and before his
departure he converted every thing into
cash and drew out all his bank accounts
and got man to help move four or
five valises which seemed To be lightly
filled His credit was high and he was
rated at over 81 .OOO. 900 by the CONNER
cial agencies.